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Actor Bernsen enjoying ride of derby movie project
Giving Doll ministry hits 5,000 milestone
Region's stocking full of ideas for those on the prowl for holiday gifts
Retired firefighter who broke color barrier among those being honored
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Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
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Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
Retired firefighter who broke color barrier among those being honored
Angel Food Ministries helps stretch grocery dollars
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Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
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Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Officials still believe Silver Creek swimmers were never in danger
By Bob Downing
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, Aug 22, 2008
Bacteria probably killed thousands of fish over the Memorial Day weekend at Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton.
But Phil Hillman, an Ohio Division of Wildlife fish biologist stationed in the Portage Lakes, said what triggered the outbreak of aeromonas bacteria may never be known.
The bacteria are common and are fatal only if fish have been weakened or are under stress before they are infected, he said.
What stressed the fish in the 50-acre Silver Creek Lake and left them in a debilitated state ''will likely remain a mystery,'' Hillman said.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service laboratory in La Crosse, Wis., identified the bacteria in largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie and gizzard shad samples collected at Silver Creek.
The bacteria are not a threat to healthy fish or swimmers at the lake, which is part of Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, Hillman said.
The findings from the Wisconsin tests were the final results from the Silver Creek investigation.
Earlier tests indicated no problems with pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls or other chemicals and there was no evidence of a chemical spill or a release into the lake. Algae tests were normal.
Dissolved oxygen levels were close to normal and not deemed a problem, although that possibility was raised initially, Hillman said.
''There's no hot sign, no hot button,'' he said. ''There's no obvious thing . . . but something very severe happened to stress the fish.''
More than a thousand fish were reported dead and floating in the lake on the Memorial Day weekend and early the following week.
The Barberton Health Department issued an advisory against swimming at the park beach on June 6 because of the dead fish. The park district kept the beach open after conferring with state agencies but notified swimmers. The advisory was lifted on June 11.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.
Bacteria probably killed thousands of fish over the Memorial Day weekend at Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton.
Get the full article here.
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